New Wave music reviews

In my mind the greatest Iggy Pop song ever. This song is amazing but album it is taken from, unfortunetly isn't his greatest. There are a few other good songs off of it but this is with out question the best song of the lot. If you like this song I would recommend the album "The Idiot". It is his best album ever, not to mention it's produced by David Bowie.

I am new to Joanne Shanandoah. So I wanted to get a good "example" of her music. By reading other reviews on Amazon I decided to buy this specific CD. I loved it. The songs are very powerful and her voice is divine. I wanted to start my collection of Joanne with music on her native tongue. And that is one of the reasons I purchased this CD. Now I want to buy a CD where she sings in English.

I was lucky enough to see Joanne Shenandoah at the Indian Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI last year. She took my breath away. My friend bought this CD and we just took a trip up to the North Woods this weekend and listened to it. WOW! It is so beautiful! Each and every song is a beautiful melody to your ears and soul. I loved listening to it so much I'm buying my own copy (along with a couple of other CD's by Joanne) from Amazon today.

If you ever get a chance to see this beautiful woman sing in person-GO AND SEE HER! She shares her tradition and family on stage along with her lovely music.

Buy it -- you need it! This is music flows through the mind in powerfully smooth waves, evocative of the same quiet power I found in Timecode's 'Indigo.' In America, where achieving perverted levels of noise is a sacred goal, artists like Shenandoah take us away and set us in the chasmal spaces of peace.

Big Country were criminally overlooked in the US. "In a Big Country" was nothing compared to most of their songs. Their albums "Steeltown" and "The Seer" are sheer masterpieces, much better than the nonetheless excellent "The Crossing." With Big Country you have a band not only with a unique sound--NOT a repetitive one as the would-be hepcat music critics would tell you--but a band that excelled in just about every way possible. The musicianship of Rush, the melody and depth of R.E.M., and the poetic voice of a Bob Dylan, make for one of the greatest audio experiences you'll ever have. And on PIOT and NPLH, the band proved that even when lightening their sound for commercial purposes, they still poured their hearts into their work.
I would guess that many people would like these albums better than their "artier" early ones or the rip-roaring rock albums that sent their career out with a bang in the 90s. The songwriting is unreal. On PIOT, "Time for Leaving" may well be the ultimate "I'm mad at the world song." It's so rugged yet lovely, with lines like "I will pack up my things and go / Take a train over Canada / Just tie up my strings and I'll blow." When Stuart Adamson sings, of his shadow, that he will "look no more in its beaten eye," you know you are hearing a poet speak.
"Everything I Need" is transformed from a slick ballad into a yearning ode to a never-to-be love. The chorus, the interplay of instruments (including mandolin), and the lines "All the seasons washing over me, all the secret wounds that bleed," sum it up. Sometimes what hurts inside us would prevent us from having that love that we think would overpower all others.
NPLH is BC's most diverse album. The songs are somewhat poppy and all sound different, as if SA and company were just experimenting while trapped in a more commercial sound. SA's wit becomes even more dagger-sharp on this album, and remained this way till his final work. "Into the Fire" mixes rocking longing with the bittersweet inner world of depression; "The Hostage Speaks" is a sinuous attack on extremists. (Check out SA's trademark "hyahhhs" on this one.) "Republican Party Reptile" is a very funny, criminally catchy rocker lampooning right-winger PJ O'Rourke, author of a book of the same title with charming passages about Democrat women being ugly, and how Republicans are "right" because they fulfill Darwin's vision. "I hope you like it, I hope next time you'll bring your friends with you," presaged the Bush II era by some years, and is more chilling than ever. "Leap of Faith" is a gorgeous, dramatic rock anthem for those in the depths of sorrow willing to climb out. Stuart and Tony's vocal interplay with the backup singers toward the end is spine-tingling. Could have been a HUGE hit. As for Tony Butler, he remains a bassist on the par of a Geddy Lee, but with much more groove and raw emotion. (CHECK HIM OUT.) Bruce Watson is in fine form as ever, and all that's missing on NPLH is drummer Mark Brzezicki, who later rejoined the band. Stunning drummer. A band you'd go to see just to watch them play (like Rush).
There is no going wrong with a Big Country album. Creem magazine called The Buffalo Skinners one of the best rock albums ever recorded. I think they said one of the ten or five best. Believe me, BC were a phenomenal band. If you want a good cry, play "Dynamite Lady." There's something in this double disc for EVERYONE. It's an incredible bargain. You'll be dancing, air-guitaring, and singing right alongside the rich and true voices of the boys.

I just finished listening to this set and was reminded that, even though No Place Like Home (NPLH) was recorded during a strange period in Big Country's history, Stuart Adamson's songs reflect a growing maturity in terms of lyrics (subject matter), music (varying styles), and, as far as the way the band handles Adamson's songs, arrangements (not so electric guitar heavy).

"We're Not in Kansas," which is also featured on The Buffalo Skinners CD, released shortly after NPLH, is an indictment (a rough one using extremely effective Wizard of Oz imagery) of the shallowness and greed of the American way of life. The sing-songy "Beautiful People," on the other hand, is a very upbeat celebration of diversity. When I first heard it, I thought it was satirical. Adamson's songs, at least his earlier songs, were several shades of deep dark, but this song suggests a slightly different attitude towards those with whom he comes into contact.

My favorite song on the CD, "Leap of Faith," makes me think of a cool Motown song, but one that's been mixed up with a Springsteenesque redemption theme. It's such a good song that alone, it's truly worth the price of the CD. The fact that the triumphant "Leap of Faith" is surrounded by the sad "Dynamite Lady," the scathing "Republican Party Reptile," the mournful "Ships" (a full band version of "Ships" can be heard on The Buffalo Skinners CD, which I mentioned earlier), the pleading "Heart of the World," and so many winners makes it a bona fide classic, albeit one that, unfortunately, most probably will never hear.

Peace in Our Time (PIOT) is not a favorite Big Country CD of mine. However, having said that, there are some songs that, in my opinion, rank amongst their finest. The lead-off track, "King of Emotion," is one of those infectious anthems, but the anthemic quality is not one that tries to provoke people to get out in the streets. It's one that tries to provoke whomever's listening to seek love within him/herself. It's rare that an anthem can do that (separate the personal from the collective), but "King of Emotion" somehow does it and succeeds. The title track is also an anthem, but one in the more traditional sense. It exhorts whomever's in power to hand peace over -- "Give us peace in our time/While I have a life to live/Then I have no life to give." Why give one's life over in a war and be a dead hero? While it may be absolutely necessary to risk one's life, depending on the situation, the guy singing this song doesn't want to die on a battlefield along with somebody he himself might've killed that he didn't even know. This guy wants to live, grow, develop, and affect people. Why not let him? Give him peace in his time!

Lastly, my favorite song on PIOT is the wonderful, rejuvenating "River of Hope." Even though it's somewhat bleak in the sense that whilst the river of hope will be found, somebody's inevitably going to screw it up for everyone, it still uniquivocally states that the river exists, and that's the important thing. There's always hope, and Mark Brzezicki's (drums) and Tony Butler's (bass guitar) bull's eye rhythm pulsates and percolates like such a river would. The melody and the imagery are perfect together, and every time I hear it, I want to dance -- preferably near the river so I can jump in at some point.

Stuart Adamson's and Bruce Watson's guitar interplay is something of which all guitarists should take note. Butler and Brzezicki give new meaning to the word "bottom" (musically speaking, it's a good meaning -- the best). As a band, these guys were unstoppable. Their music came from a collective heart and mind that never lost faith in the human potential for greatness, whatever the circumstance. I'm angry with Adamson for dying, but I will also be eternally grateful that he wrote the songs he did. They will not die. As one contemporary of Adamson aptly put it, "There will always be a place in our hearts for Big Country."

A Rare Thing is a Bad (John)Peel Session. Many of the Peel sessions released on vinyl (in the 80s) or on CD since have went out of print and become collector's gold.
This session or Sessions (there are 3 here) are pure quality Gang of Four. 2 Sessions from 1979 and one from 1981 (just before Dave Allen departed) show the band at it's peak.

Every track here is worth a listen. Find this and Buy it.

This is a great cd for anyone who loves rock. I would buy the cd just for the song "I Found That Essence Rare" . This definitly a cd you'll want to turn up loudand air guitar to!

The John Peel Sessions is a great record, only contains 4 tracks:

- Polarlicht
- Der Wind
- Jahr Um Jahr
- Autumn

for an X-MaL Deutschland Fan, this is a High Item ! Because is a rarely Record.

As a former new waver, I think this ranks up with the dozen or so post-punk classics, along with Special Beat Service, Lexicon of Love, The Specials, and Absolutely. Resolutely lightweight and full of melody, it's consistent, upbeat, and definitive. The lyrics are outright nonsense, but Nick Heyward, in all his great work, has always favored sound and feel over message. The only complaints are the unnecesary dance mix of Favorite Shirts and the choice of the shorter single mix of October Is Orange instead of the far better 12" mix.

Unlike so many of its contemporaries, this holds up remarkably well.

Georgia Kelly's music has an amazing power to put in a peaceful state of mind. That feeling is priceless and for that, I am grateful to her. She has also inspired me to learn to play the harp...it is such a beautiful instrument. I love the music, it's a great CD.

This is a great compilation and is well worth seeking out. It has a much rawer sound than either kilimanjaro or wilder. Hopefully someone will soon see fit to reissue it or another comp. which includes this and other teardrop rarities. But unless money is no object i would advise avoiding the exorbitant prices for used copies being offered by greed heads. I got a used copy of amazon a couple of years back for round 10 bucks, which is a fair price.

these guys are great. they played back then and they rock now. pierce my brain was used in tony hawks underground and they rock

I BOUGHT THIS CD BEFORE READING ANY REVIEWS. BIG MISTAKE.THIS IS A COMPILATION OF HIS FAVORITE SONGS BY THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS. NO SINGING BY PAUL AT ALL.ALSO WATCH OUT FOR THE PAUL WELLER CD.SAME STORY.BUY UNCUT MAGAZINE INSTEAD.

I'm disappointed with the fools who have reviews up here already, but people will be people, I guess. The thing you HAVE to know before buying this album is that it is NOT music by Paul Heaton, it is a collection of music by others that Paul Heaton considers influential. It's part of a great ongoing series put out by DMC - I recommend checking out the entire "Under the Influence" series.

That being said, this is probably the best out of that outstanding series. It's got great funk, soul, country (which I normally loathe), rock - it's a crime that there aren't audio samples available for this CD, because it's an outstanding ghoulash.

I heartily recommend this CD for anyone who is looking to expand their musical horizons.

I first saw Paul on stage in Paris automn 86 with the housemartins. One of the most emotionnal concert i've ever seen among hundreds !
So you can say i'm a fan. However, i was disapointed by his first solo LP deseperatly searching where the "angel voice" was ... i just bougnt this new release tonight and i'll tell you more as soon as possible.
If you want to discover this incredible artist i advice you to buy "now that's what i call quite good" from the housemartins.
So i take the risk of rating it 5 stars before listening.